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Home My WebLink About2. Water Quality Noticea CITY OF ROSEMOUNT EXECUTIVE SUMMARY FOR ACTION CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE: March 10, 1992 AGENDA ITEM: Water Quality Notice AGENDA SECTION: New Business PREPARED BY: Bud Osmundson City Engineer/Assist Pub Works Director AGEND m „ ATTACHMENTS: Water Quality Notice, APP BY: Minnesota Department of Health Memo - 1�/ The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has established national drinking water standards that require all public water systems to minimize lead contamination resulting from the corrosion of plumbing materials. The Minnesota Department of Health is administering and assisting in some phases of the required testing of tap water. The EPA mandated rules require medium-size water systems, (such as Rosemounts) to complete initial monitoring (testing) during two consecutive six-month periods by June 30, 1993. The attached notice will be published" in the paper on Friday, March 13, 1992 to inform Rosemount residents that they may be contacted to assist the City in sampling their tap water. At this time the EPA and Minnesota Department of Health do not have funding available to assist the cities with the cost of the testing, which must be completed by certified laboratories. Therefore, we are investigating the possibility of entering into a joint powers agreement with nine neighboring communities to contract with a testing laboratory for the sample testing. The intent is that we may receive significant price reductions for the testing services for the cities in the agreement. The EPA rules and regulations stipulate the number of samples from particular ages of homes for each size of city. Rosemount's cost for the initial monitoring could be in the $1000 to $1500 range. Follow up testing and preventative measures may be required depending on the results of the initial test period ending June 30, 1993. Further information will be provided to you as it becomes available. It should be emphasized that there is not a lead problem in the city's supply or distribution system. However, certain homes with lead services, lead pipes or copper pipes with lead solder may have higher concentrations. If you have any questions prior to the meeting, please feel free to contact me. RECOMMENDED ACTION: None 1 COUNCIL ACTION: WA'i'SR QUALITY NOTICE your water utility is committed to delivering safe, reliable drinking water to you and your community. That commitment includes meeting the regulations of the United States Environmental protection Agency. in the next few months all water utilities will be doing water studies and increased monitoring of the water supply with regards to new regulations on lead and, 'copper levels in drinking water. and often useful metal, Lead is a common, natural; and is present in food, water, and soil. However, high concentrations of lead may pose adverse health risks, depending on total exposure from all sources. According to u.S.E.p•A. reports, lead levels in drinking water are usually low. only about it of all source waters in the united States exceed acceptable lead levels. The Minnesota Department of Health has never recorded a water sample that exceeds the acceptable lead level. Studies have shown the major source for lead in drinking water is the home plumbing system. Studies have also shown that lead in drinking water can be reduced substantially by flushing your drinking taps thoroughly when unused for more than a few hours. Lead levels are likely to be highest if: 1. Your home is older with lead pipes or services. 2. Your home is between five and ten years old and; a. Has copper pipes joined with lead solder. b. Is equipped with brass faucets. our water utility will start monitoring for Beginning 3.n July 1992 y There is no reason to .suspect that lead at household taps. elevated levels will be detected. The monitoring program is being es instituted to comply with Federal Regulations. Certain home sY will be selected to participate in this lead testing program. ur help and cooperat:Lon may be requested if your home meets the requirements of the program. These potential sample sites will be ive. If you have questions about contacted by a city representat the lead sampling program or the water system, please contact your water utility. Apple 'Valley Neil Heuer 431-8876 895-4553 Burnsville Dick Dwyer utility Dept. 681-4300 Eagan Farmington Tom Kaldunski 463-7111 469-4431 Lakeville pick Nordling Mike Widstrom 423--4411 Rosemount Gary Larson 447-8866 Savage I LMinnesota Department of Health Division of Environmental Health 925 Delawa-e Street Southeast P.O. Box 59040 Minneapolis, MN 55459-0040 (612) 627.5100 M E M O R A N D U M'� TO: Community Water Systems with Populations of 3,301 - 50,000 FROM: Richard D. Clark, P.E., Supervisor,5E % Public Water Supply Unit �•� Section of Water Supply and Well Management PHONE: 612/627-5180 SUBJECT: National Primary Drinking Water Regulations Control of Lead acid Cooper in Medium -Size Water Systems ` The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has established national drinking water standards that require all public water systems to optimize corrosion control in order to minimize lead contamination resulting from the corrosion of plumbing materials. These regulations establish a treatment technique that may include: 1) corrosion control treatment, 2) source water treatment, 3) lead service line replacement, and 4) public education. These requirements are triggered by lead and copper action levels measured in samples collected at consumers' taps. The lead action level is exceeded if the concentration of lead in more than 10 percent of tap water samples collected in any monitoring period is greater than 0.015 mg/L. The copper action level is exceeded if 10 percent of these samples is greater than 1.3 mg/L. Medium-size water systems (serving 3,301 - 50,000 persons) must complete .initial- monitoring during two consecutive six-month monitoring periods by June 30, 1993. Sample site selection must conmence with a complete materials evaluation of the distribution system in order to identify a pool of targeted sampling sites. This process must be accomplished by June 30, 1992, under the present timeline. The sites selected for the sampling pool must meet the criteria listed in '40 CFR 141.86(a), which is summarized in Attachment 1. This materials evaluation step is critical to the monitoring strategy and must be accomplished with care in order that high-risk locations are properly identified for the initial monitoring period. EPA has released a draft guidance manual that provides additional information for identifying high- risk sites. Selected guidance from this draft guidance manual is provided as Attachment 2. r National Primary Drinking Water Regulations Page 2 The Minnesota Department of Health will not be able to provide the laboratory support for this initial testing unless legislative approval of additional funding is approved during the 1992 session. Assuming that action on this funding request will not be completed until April, 1992, all water systems should budget local funds and contact private laboratories that are certified by the state to perform lead and copper analysis by the -required methods. The list of certified laboratories will be provided by the department's Division of Public Health Laboratories upon request. If funding is approved by the legislature for the initial lead and copper monitoring program, the department will notify each water system and provide further information on laboratory submittal procedures. Medium-size water systems must also measure specific water quality parameters at taps and at each entry point to the distribution system if the tap water monitoring results exceed the action levels for lead or copper during the base monitoring period (July 1992 - June 1993) and after installation of optimal corrosion control treatment. Since pH measurements must be made at sample taps and entry points, access to a portable field instrument will be required. If corrosion control studies are required for your water system, they must be conducted by all medium-size water systems by July 1, 1995, and additional follow-up sampling is mandated by January 1, 1999.' Reporting requirements for tap water monitoring are identified in 40• CFR 141.90(a). When tap sampling results are reported to the state, the sampling site location and criteria under which the site was selected for the system's sampling pool must also be reported. Great attention to keeping accurate records will insure that follow-up tap sampling will be conducted at the same locations. An example reporting form will be developed and provided prior to the commencement of the initial monitoring period. A copy of the final ru1es for lead and copper are provided for your information and review (Attachment 3). If.you have further questions or problems with this new program, please contact Bill Anderl at 612/621-5109. RM WHA:cls 'Attachments